Higher Learning
by Ed Ogle

It soon became apparent to educational leaders in the Northwest Territories that a truly Northern University needed to be established. When Northern Affairs started to take an interest in Northern education in the early fifties, about ten percent of native children went to school. Within a decade, that percentage had been pushed to nearly 90 percent. Even though the dropout rate remained high, the percentage of those completing high school began to grow.

A Northern University, geared to the programs these kids needed, alert to their employment opportunities, yet tough enough to give the education required if the recipient decided to join the mainstream of Canadian employment in the South, was needed.

The little port town of Tuktoyuktuk, which had become the center of oil exploration in the area, was strongly considered as a possibility for a university in the western part of the Arctic.

The kids in that area were ready and willing. In a very short time, half the population of Tuk appeared wearing promo material: tee shirts and sweat clothing, bearing the decal, TUK U.

Background Information

Talk about the difference between the northern and southern parts of our country. Did the people of the North have the same opportunities as people in the south? Also discuss whether or not a university geared toward a specific kind of people is a good thing or a bad one.

Questions

1. What percentage of children in the north went to school in the early 1950's?

2. Why do you think the dropout rate remained high?

3. How many years is a decade?

4. What kind of programs do you think the kids needed?

5. What does the word recipient mean?

6. Why would the northern kids want to "join the mainstream employment in the South"?

7. What kind of town is Tuktoyuktuk?

8. Where is Tuk located?

9. Use the word population in a sentence.

10. What is the word promo short for?

11. Why do you think the kids were so excited about the school?